New law firm brings hard workers, family focus to Sterling

Brown and Hulbert, LLC celebrated ribbon cutting Aug. 21

By David Martinez Journal-Advocate staff writer

Posted:
08/28/2012 10:53:37 AM MDT

Nicole Brown cuts the ribbon in front of Brown & Hulbert, LLC, with partners Lori Hulbert (right, with the baby) and Spencer Crona (left, with suit), as representatives from the Logan County Chamber of Commerce welcome the new Sterling law firm as a member. (David Martinez/Journal-Advocate)

STERLING -- Pass by the office of Brown and Hulbert, LLC and there's a good chance you won't even notice it's there. An unlit, nondescript sign hangs over a wall of windows, which showcase a bare hardwood floor, a modestly lit hallway and a front desk encased by old case files.

But looks can deceive.

People are busy inside the offices of Lori Hulbert and Nicole Economy Brown, from the management of estate plans and probate litigation cases across Denver and northeast Colorado, to the continued move-in process and the raising of Hulbert's 6-week-old baby Victoria. Even the receptionist has to balance her time at the firm with work at two other jobs.

The partnership, which operates an office in Denver as well, had a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 21 to celebrate the opening of their Sterling branch.

But for Hulbert, an Ohio native who received an associate's degree at 17 and started law school by the time she was 19, hard work is nothing new.

"You balance it. My husband's an amazing man," laughs Hulbert, adding that Brown and her assistant John are crucial to making things run smoothly. "I can't do anything without the support behind me."

Sterling's newest attorney had received enough credits in high school to graduate two years early, but she participated in a unique program in her state that allowed her to take college classes along with her high school ones so she could still walk with her friends. She'd go to high school by day and take college classes by night.

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By the time she did walk to receive her high school diploma, she'd already received her associate's degree from Columbus State Community College a week before.

She then went on to graduate from Capital University -- also in Ohio -- majoring in political science in 1997, and later graduated from Capital University Law School in 2000. But she hadn't formed a connection to Coloradountil she moved to Denver to complete a master's degree in taxation from the University of Denver's College of Law, which she did in 2001.

While Hulbert "always knew" she wanted to practice law, her interest in probate (the first step in the legal process of administering the estate of someone who's died) came when she worked as a bank teller in college.

"I saw a lot of people with family issues... accounts getting moved around. It was always kind of interesting to me," she explained. "I go meet with people and help them through one of the most difficult parts of their lives."

Ohio also allows people to practice probate law when they're still in law school, which gave her early experience.

Brown and Hulbert met while working at a law firm at 16th Street and Broadway Street in Denver, where they became friends. Hulbert said they both thought family law was important, and in 2009, decided to open their own firm in Denver dedicated to probate, estate and tax law.

Since their opening, the two have taken cases and clients from Sterling, Fort Morgan and Yuma County. Hulbert moved to Sterling in January, either working out of her own home or visiting her client's homes, and has been working out of her new office since April or May.

She said her client base has grown naturally, but the office's location just across from the Logan County Courthouse on Main Street near Fourth Street brings in a steady stream of curious passersby. Some end up finding legal representation, but Hulbert says she's able to answer most of their questions in half an hour.

It's that kind of contact that's vital, Hulbert said, because finding new clients is so important to her business.

"I become friends with a lot of clients... With estate taxes, it's very important to keep in touch," she said. "I have a hard time drawing that line because I do get to know these individuals."

The firm has also formed a network with some of Sterling's most well known attorneys for cross referrals, such as former judge and attorney Baxter Arnold and City Attorney Curt Penny.

All the outreach would seem almost frivolous should Brown and Hulbert's office have an expiration date in the area, but Hulbert said she isn't going anywhere. Her husband spent a lot of time researching the Sterling community before they decided to move, and Hulbert says she likes the schools here and that the people have been incredibly kind.

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